The Atlantic World Chapter Four

The Age of Exploration ► What was the Age of Exploration?  A time period when Europeans began to explore the rest of the world ► How was this possible?  Improvements in mapmaking, shipbuilding, rigging, and navigation made long voyages possible ► Why do European countries explore?  Policy of mercantilism drives exploration  Finding new trade routes and trading “partners” were paramount

What is mercantilism? ► Policy that stated there was a limited amount of money in the world  Each country needed to grab what they can before it is gone  Export more than you import in order to create a favorable balance of trade ► Colonies and markets were needed to keep everything in the system

The Explorers ► Portugal  Vasco de Gama ► Landed in India in 1498 ► Established an important trade route from Europe to India and the East Indies  Ferdinand Magellan ► His crew completed the first circumnavigation of the world in 1525 ► Magellan was killed in the Philippines

Voyage of Vasco de Gama

Magellan’s Voyage

The Explorers ► Spain  Christopher Columbus  Believed he could reach the Indies faster by traveling west…found North America instead  Established the Columbian Exchange ► A massive exchange of goods, plants, animals and diseases ► Exchange between New and Old Worlds

Columbian Exchange

The Struggle over the New World ► European countries fought for control of the New World and its natural resources ► New World provided for opportunities for great wealth ► Colonizing European powers:  France  England  Spain  Portugal

Struggle Turns to Conflict ► England wanted more land in the New World  First defeated the Dutch ► Dispute over lands in the Ohio Valley led to a war in 1754  This began the Seven Years’ War with France ► The battle in the New World was known as the French and Indian War

The Conquistadors ► Spain  Hernan Cortes in Mexico ► Able to defeat the mighty Aztec Empire ► Used superior weapons, allies, and disease ► 96% of the Aztec population died from  Francisco Pizzaro in Peru ► Defeated the Incan Empire ► Ambushed and kidnapped the Incan ruler ► Received ransom then strangled and killed him anyway

Francisco Pizzaro

The Atlantic Slave Trade ► Europeans needed slave labor in their colonies to grow crops, mine, etc.  Native Americans were used, but many died due to disease ► Death rate due to disease was extremely high  Africans replaced the Natives as the main source of slave labor for the Europeans ► Completely changed the trade relationship between Europe and Africa

The Atlantic Slave Trade Timeline ► s  Spain and Portugal began the trade ► s  Slave Trade grows dramatically ► 1690  England increases the Slave Trade ► 1870  The Atlantic Slave Trade ends

Atlantic Slave Trade Effects ► Begins a system of “Triangular Trade”  Africa, Europe, and Americas all participate ► African rulers and traders made deals with Europeans for slaves  Introduction of guns into African continent  Western African economy and empires crumbled  Slaves are transported through the “Middle Passage”

Triangular Trade

The Middle Passage

► The Slave Ships  The captain could be a “tight” or “loose” packer ► “Tight” meant slaves would be placed lying on each other ► Typically 20 percent or more Africans would die on the way to the New World ► Disease, malnutrition, beatings, suicide ► Once in the New World  Slaves were auctioned of to the highest bidder  This could easily separate families  Slavery was a life-long condition, as well as hereditary

The Middle Passage

Slavery in the New World ► Slave Resistance  Slaves tried to keep their cultural heritage  Musical traditions  Ancestral stories ► Slave Rebellion  Often broke tools or worked slowly  Many ran away  Numerous revolts throughout the years

The Growth of Global Trade ► Economic systems of Europe drastically changed ► Colonial empires that stretched through multiple continents led to a new business and trade practices  Capitalism  Joint-Stock Companies

What is Capitalism? ► Economic system based on private ownership and the investment of resources, such as money, for profit  Economic system where things are owned by people or an individual, not by a government ► Profits allow individuals and businesses to become extremely wealthy, not just the government

What is a Joint-Stock Company? ► A business in which a number of investors combine their wealth for a common purpose  Very similar to a modern-day corporation ► Early on in the s the purpose was colonization  Overseas colonies were very expensive, but could be very profitable

Changes in European Society ► Exploration and colonization led to an economic growth and boom in Europe  Spurred the growth of towns and cities  Rise of the merchant class with great wealth  European nations became very wealthy ► Power monarchs increased greatly ► Majority of Europeans still remained poor and rural, however

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